Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh's First Female PM, Dies at 80
Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister and first female PM, dies in hospital after several health complications
Dec 30, 2025 - Khaleda Zia, Bangladesh’s former Prime Minister and the country’s first female PM, passed away Tuesday morning at the age of 80. She was under treatment in a hospital in Dhaka for a prolonged illness, according to a statement released by her party, Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP).
The three-time Prime Minister had been hospitalised on November 23 with several health complications.
Zia is survived by her son Tarique Rahman, his wife and their daughter. Tarique, who had been on a self-imposed exile for 17 years, returned to the country on December 25.
Zia will be remembered as the leader who introduced the Parliamentary form of government to replace the Presidential system long since in place in Bangladesh. The Parliamentary system was first established post-independence but frequently interrupted by military rule, with its full restoration and strengthening in 1991 under Khaleda Zia's leadership.
It was widely believed that Zia would win the 2026 elections and lead the country once again.
The former leader was convicted in 2018 for alleged misapproriation of funds meant for orphans during her stint as PM from 2001 to 2006. However, the country's Supreme Court acquitted her in January 2025 overturning a previous 10-year prison sentence.
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